The MSPE students visited Exelon’s headquarters in Chicago for a presentation on the company and U.S. electricity market structure. The visit included a 1.5-hour presentation delivered by Nisha Begwani, Director of Strategy and Energy Policy and Dr. Isaac Duah, Principal Policy Analyst. They introduced Exelon as one of the largest regulated utility companies in the United States, serving nearly 11 million customers through subsidiaries such as Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) in northern Illinois. The speakers explained that Exelon now focuses primarily on regulated transmission and distribution operations, following the separation of its competitive generation business. This structure emphasizes infrastructure investment, grid reliability, and service quality under state and federal regulation.
The presentation reviewed the three main components of electricity markets:
- Generation: Production of electricity from sources such as nuclear, natural gas, and renewables. In some states, generation operates in competitive wholesale markets; in others, it remains regulated.
- Transmission: High-voltage transport of electricity over long distances, typically regulated and coordinated by regional system operators to ensure reliability.
- Distribution: Local delivery of electricity to homes and businesses. Utilities like ComEd maintain and upgrade these networks, including investments in grid modernization and resilience.
The speakers also outlined regulatory changes since the late 1990s, when many states restructured electricity markets to introduce competition in generation while keeping transmission and distribution regulated. Over time, regulatory priorities have expanded to include grid reliability, renewable integration, and infrastructure modernization. Exelon’s strategy today centers on stable, long-term investment within this regulated framework.
Overall, the session provided a clear overview of electricity market organization, regulatory evolution, and Exelon’s role within the U.S. energy sector